Lawsuit claims Northland auto shop ripped off customers

Owner of Mobile Auto Repair denies doing anything wrong

An auto repair shop owner facing a class-action lawsuit from the state of Missouri says the allegations that he ripped off his customers aren't true.

Lawsuit claims Northland auto shop ripped off customers

Owner of Mobile Auto Repair denies doing anything wrong

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Updated: 9:37 PM CDT Jul 9, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

A new lawsuit accuses a Northland auto mechanic of duping more than a dozen customers out of money without ever during the work they paid for.

John Rocha, the owner of Mobile Auto Repair on Northeast Vivion Road, said his business is legitimate, he helps fix thousands of cars and people shouldn’t pass judgment based on a relatively small number of his customers.

“I don’t want to say that. It don’t want to say it necessarily,” he said. “But you have to understand that if you have to come to me.”

Mary Finazzo and her mother, Mary Manley, said they did come to Rocha, to no avail.

“Financially, all of this has been too much,” Manley said. “It’s just killed us.”

They said they paid $1,100 for repairs, but nothing was actually repaired. Now they’re left without a car.

“I can’t get to my doctor’s appointment half the time because I don’t have a car that runs,” Finazzo said.

“It was beyond repair,” Rocha said.

“She says you owe her $1,100,” McDonnell said.

“She might feel that way,” Rocha said.

The case has been anything but a quick fix.

“I’d like to see him pay her the money back and shut him down,” Manley said.

Rocha said he feels confident his business is on the up and up.

“I know it is, but like I said, I make mistakes all the time,” he said.

The lawsuit said Rocha asked for upfront payments before any work was done. He told KMBC 9 News that the upfront money was typically used to buy parts.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster is seeking an order requiring that Rocha pay back customers and stopping him from doing business in Missouri.

Anyone who has done business with Mobile Auto Repair and wants to file a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office should contact the Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222 or visit its website.